News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-10-20

was served, but Lackinsky remained in
his cell.
The following morning Castanos, who
had his own reasons for wishing to be
tavorably reported to the Russian Gov
eminent, visited his prisoner and told
him not to be discouraged, adding an as
surance that his detention would soon
end. AT the same time, taking the youth
kindly by the hand, he assured him, with
a smile, that there was nothing further
to fear
Though inwardly rejoicing, as he lis,
tened to the encouraging words, Lackin-
sky appeared to comprehend nothing
but the gentle tone and the friendly
pressure of the hand
Later, he was led to a spot where ten
French prisoners of war bad just been
shot. There, in the presence of the
| CHASTITY, bleeding corpses, he was forced
to remain until night. Prison was a re-
lief compared with such cruel spectacle
| vet, in spite of the Generals reassuring re
marks, he could not obtain the repoSe of
which he was by this time sorely in need
| The fate of his companions in arms,
which he fully expected to share,
haunted him continually, until sleep
overcame him after several hours of
weary watching and tossing on his hard
bed of straw.
As before, a woman gently aroused
him, and spoke in the same tone in
French "Come quickly; | will save
you; your horse is saddled: everything
is ready; follow me softly, softly"
The young lieutenants senses were
Immediately on the alert; his suspicion
was fully aroused, and he was not to be
taken unawares. "What was it YOU
sa;d?n he quietly asked in German. 81
to me in my native tongueI" The woman
Immediately vanished.
On hearing of this incident, Castanos
again spoke in behalf of his prisoner; but
the assertion made so confidently by the
peasant had worked upon the minds of
the guerrillas to such degree that they
refused to be convinced until they had
made one more trial 1t was therefore
agreed that Lackinsky should remain in
captivity another night.
Five guerrillas entered the vault on
the following morning, uttering furious
threats against the French, accompanied
by malcdictiOns on the head of Napoleon.
They spoke in Spanish, of which Lack
insky understood quite enough to know
what they were saying, but he assumed
an air of unconcern and looked from one
to another as though wondering what
could be the cause of their excitement.
After being informed that he was to have
another trial, he was led to the chapel
where, ranged along the steps of the
altar, he beheld dozen guerrilla chiefs
who had constituted themselves a coun-
Gil of war. With show of suddenly
understanding that he was to undergo
an examination, the young lieutenant dc
manded an interpreter
A soldier who spoke German was sent
for and the trial proceeded.
''What is the object of your journey
from Madrid to Lisbon?" was the first
question.
Being an officer of the Cars guard, "
answered Lackinsky, II have been en-
trusted with important dispatches from
Baron StroganOtf to Admiral Siniarin"
''Ask him if he is a friend to Spain" |
said one of the Judges to the interpreter.
Indeed | am ~ replied the Pole, when |
the question was put to him in German;
81 honor and esteem the Spanish nation, |
and would be delighted if they would |
to form an alliance with my
country
Turning toward the council the in
terpreter said in French: ''The prisoner
declares that he is Russian, and he adds
that his sovereign is a firm friend and
lily of Napoleon. He also says that he
lespises Spain, and that he considers her
soldiers a band of robbers and cLt-throats
who ought to be wiped from the face OF
he EARTH
This was the most terrible ordeal the
'oung man had yet undergone, but he
lid not betray, by the movement of a
muscle, that he understood what was
aid. He seemed merely to be wonder
NC what could so suddenly have aroused
he council, who watched him narrowly
While giving vent to angry threats.
They well knew that nothing would be
% likely to put the prisoner off his guard
Is the apparent treachery of the interpre-
ter.
Comrades" said Castanos, who en-
cred the chapel at the conclusion of the
remarks, care you convinced
1t last; and will you now permit this
lispatch-bearer to proceed?"
The guerrillas answered with one
'oice, and so eager were they to make
mends for what they considered their
rror that within one hour Lackinsky's
lorse, papers, and weapons were re-
tored, and he was fer on the road to Lis
ION, rejoicing at his escape. Translated
or the ATg0aaut.